Juventus will travel to the Philips Stadion to take on PSV Eindhoven in the second leg of their Champions League knockout playoff tie, carrying a narrow 2-1 advantage from the first leg.
Thiago Motta’s side secured victory in Turin, with Weston McKennie opening the scoring before Ivan Perisic equalized for PSV early in the second half. However, substitute Samuel Mbangula struck late to give the Italian giants a crucial lead heading into this decisive encounter.
Buoyed by their recent form, Juventus head into this clash on the back of a statement win in the Derby d’Italia, where Porto loanee Francisco Conceição’s goal secured a vital triumph over Inter Milan.
This victory marked their third straight win in Serie A, underlining their resurgence under Motta’s guidance.
PSV, on the other hand, struggled domestically over the weekend, drawing 2-2 with Utrecht at home. That result extended their winless streak to three games across all competitions, raising concerns ahead of their meeting with Juventus.
Peter Bosz’s men must overcome both their recent form and history, as they have been eliminated in eight of their last 11 Champions League ties after losing the first leg.
Match Preview
PSV Eindhoven
PSV have had a challenging time against Juventus this season, losing both previous meetings. However, they will take comfort in their strong home form during the group stage, where they recorded wins over Girona, Liverpool, and Shakhtar Donetsk while scoring ten goals across those three games.
With an attacking lineup that has been prolific at home, the Dutch side will need a sharp performance to overturn the deficit. History, though, is not on their side PSV have only once overturned a first-leg deficit in the Champions League, and that was back in the 1989/90 campaign.
Juventus
Juventus arrive in Eindhoven riding a wave of confidence. They have now won four consecutive matches in all competitions, marking their best streak of the season. Moreover, their record in this scenario is formidable they have advanced in their last 20 Champions League ties after winning the first leg.
Despite their strong record, Juventus’ away form remains a concern. They have won only two of their last ten competitive matches on the road (D7, L1).
However, with a disciplined defensive setup and a history of grinding out results, they will look to do just enough to secure progression.
Team News
PSV Eindhoven
PSV will be without key USMNT trio Ricardo Pepi, Sergiño Dest, and Malik Tillman due to injury. Additionally, defenders Rick Karsdorp and Olivier Boscagli are sidelined, limiting Bosz’s defensive options.
Juventus
Juventus also face notable absences, with Arkadiusz Milik, Gleison Bremer, Juan Cabal, and Pierre Kalulu unavailable. Randal Kolo Muani is expected to lead the attack in place of Dusan Vlahovic, while Renato Veiga is likely to start in central defense alongside Federico Gatti.
Expected Line-ups
PSV Eindhoven (4-2-3-1): Benitez; Ledezma, Flamingo, Obispo, Junior; Schouten, Veerman; Bakayoko, Saibari, Perisic; De Jong.
Juventus (4-2-3-1): Di Gregorio; Weah, Gatti, Veiga, Cambiaso; Thuram, Locatelli; Gonzalez, McKennie, Yildiz; Kolo Muani.
Prediction
With Juventus holding a slender lead, they are likely to prioritize defensive stability. Given their tendency to draw matches away from home, another stalemate could be on the cards.
PSV will push for goals, but Juventus’ resilience may prove decisive. Expect a tight contest, with the Italian side ultimately progressing on aggregate.
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